Fighting for Us: A Small Town Family Romance (The Bailey Brothers Book 2)

by Claire Kingsley

  I stood, fear and anger punching through me again. Was Grace still okay? “Yeah. Maybe. Grace said the guy had a lot of ink. Arms, hands, neck. She couldn’t remember what the tats looked like, but that could be him.”

  “So, just a tattooed guy,” Levi said. “That’s what you’re basing this on.”

  I whirled on him. “How often do you see a guy with fucking neck tattoos in Tilikum?”

  “I don’t know, but that seems like a stretch.”

  “He didn’t ask for her name,” I said. Why didn’t they get it? “He asked her out for a drink, but didn’t say his name or get hers. Would you hit on a girl without finding out who she is? What if that means he already knew exactly who she was?”

  “How would he know who she is?” Logan asked, then held his hands up. “Hold on, don’t jump down my throat. It’s not a dumb question. It’s not like you and Grace have been hanging out a lot since you got back.”

  “I don’t know. But I’m pretty sure someone’s been following me.”

  “Shit,” Gavin said.

  “Why?” Levi asked. “Have you actually seen anyone?”

  “You really want to get punched in the teeth, don’t you?” Gavin asked.

  “No, but he comes rolling in here talking about someone coming after him for revenge and I want to know how real this is. If it’s real, it’s fucked up and we need to do something about it. But this could still be a coincidence.”

  “It’s not a fucking coincidence. I know when I’m being watched. I had to or they would have sent me home in pieces.” I paused to take another deep breath. “Look, it might not be him. But I think someone’s been watching me, and Grace’s description matches a guy who’d happily tear me to shreds if he could. Plus, something about him bothered her enough that she felt like she needed to call me. That means something.”

  “I can respect that,” Logan said. “So what do we do?”

  “Protect Grace.” The words came out of my mouth before I could stop them. I couldn’t help it. My first—and strongest—concern was her.

  Gavin shot up out of the chair. “On it.”

  “More clothes, Gav,” Levi said.

  “Good point. I don’t want to make Grace fall in love with me. That would be awkward.”

  Logan snorted. “You wish.”

  “Hold on.” Levi held his hands up. “If it’s him, and he’s that dangerous, what the fuck are you going to do? And how are you not getting killed in the process?”

  I didn’t have a good answer to that. The thought of Grace in danger had me so panicked, I couldn’t think clearly. “I won’t do anything stupid. Just don’t let her out of your sight until I know what’s going on.”

  “We could just put Evan on her doorstep,” Logan said. “His grumpy ass would scare anyone away.”

  Gavin laughed, but Levi held up a finger. “No, don’t put Evan at Grace’s house. He should go with Asher.”

  “Good luck with that,” Gavin said. “Isn’t he still hibernating or something?”

  “He’ll help,” Levi said.

  “Maybe.” Gavin sounded skeptical. “You can always try bribing him with food.”

  “Just call him,” Levi said.

  “Shouldn’t two of us stick with Ash?” Logan asked. “If he’s the target?”

  “No,” I said. “You guys go to Grace’s house. Watch the outside and don’t let anyone in.”

  Logan stood and clapped me on the back. “We’ve got this. Don’t worry. Come on, broritos.”

  Levi tossed a balled-up sock at Logan. “Dude, pants.”

  “I fuckin’ hate pants.”

  I left my brothers while they put enough clothes on to leave the house. I trusted them, which was a weird feeling. It had been a long time since I’d really trusted anyone.

  But I had to. I needed to leave Grace in their hands until I figured out what the hell was going on.

  21

  Grace

  My alarm jolted me awake. Groaning, I smacked the bedside clock. Or tried to. I missed. Cracking my eyes open, I found the button and jabbed it a few times for good measure.

  Turning over, I pulled the covers up. I wasn’t ready to be awake. I’d gone to bed early last night, listening to a meditation app for a while to help me relax. But I’d still slept restlessly. Memories of holding Asher in my living room had invaded my dreams, mixing with memories from before. I’d woken up several times and stretched my arm across the empty side of the bed, reaching for him. Believing in my half-awake haze that he was here, sleeping beside me.

  I would have given just about anything for that to be true.

  A few minutes later, my alarm went off again. Apparently I’d hit snooze. I rolled over and hit the correct button this time. But I was awake now, and I had to work, so I reluctantly peeled myself out of bed.

  I straightened my tank top and rubbed my eyes. Caffeine. I definitely needed caffeine. I opened the bedroom door and almost tripped over something in the hallway.

  A large green lump lay on the floor. It moved and I jumped backward, shrieking.

  Dark hair poked out from one end and an all-too-familiar face turned toward me. Gavin. He was curled up in a green sleeping bag. “Is it morning?”

  “What the hell are you doing?”

  “Sleeping, until you kicked me.” His voice was gravelly, and he blinked his eyes slowly.

  “I didn’t kick you, I almost tripped over you.”

  Another voice carried from the living room. “Shut up over there.”

  I put my hands on my hips. “Seriously? How many of you are in here?”

  “Three.” Gavin closed his eyes and nestled back into the sleeping bag. “Evan went with Asher. We’re on Grace duty.”

  “Grace duty? What does that mean?”

  Without waiting for an answer, I stepped over him and went out to the living room. Sure enough, I found two more Baileys. Levi had the couch and Logan had improvised, pushing two armchairs together to make a bed.

  “When did you guys get here?”

  “Last night. You were already in bed, so we let ourselves in,” Logan said. The chairs were too short for him to stretch out, so he had his legs tucked up and his hands beneath his cheek. Groaning, he sat up and rubbed his neck. “I slept like shit.”

  My meditation app must have drowned out the sound of them coming in. Except—

  “How did you get in?”

  “Key.”

  “Who gave you a key?”

  Logan’s forehead creased, like I’d asked a weird question. “I’ve always had a key. We made copies when you moved in.”

  “Wait, what? Who else has one?”

  “We all do.” He rubbed his neck again. “Obviously.”

  Levi groaned. “I hate all of you.”

  “He’s grouchy when he doesn’t get his beauty sleep,” Logan said. “Actually, he’s grouchy all the time.”

  “Fuck off.”

  “See?”

  I put my hands on my hips. “We’ll come back later to the part where you all have keys to my house and I didn’t know. What are you doing here?”

  “Before we leave the key discussion, should I make a copy for Asher?” Logan asked. “Or is that like a relationship thing and you’ll take care of it?”

  “Logan.”

  “Sorry, I’m just asking.”

  “Asher sent us,” Gavin said from the hallway.

  My hands dropped to my sides. Asher had sent them? “Oh my god. Are you supposed to be bodyguards?”

  “Yep,” Logan said. “But if this is going to continue, we need to talk about better sleeping arrangements.”

  Levi sat up. “Or maybe you need to not suck and you’d get the couch. This was comfortable.”

  “You want a rematch? I’ll pin you right now.”

  “Did you guys wrestle for who got the couch?” I asked.

  “Yeah, out front. But he cheated,” Logan said.

  “I didn’t cheat. You’re just pissed that I’m better than you.”
r />   Logan scowled. “Cheater.”

  Gavin came out of the hallway, dragging his sleeping bag across the floor. He paused and cleared his throat. “Uh, Grace?”

  “What?”

  His eyes darted back and forth, like he wasn’t sure where to look. He dropped the sleeping bag and headed for the kitchen. “Nothing.”

  “You might want to put some clothes on, G,” Logan said. “You’re giving Gavin confusing pants feelings. Now someone’s going to have to give him the talk.”

  I looked down at myself. I was dressed in nothing but a tank top and panties—and no bra. Lovely. “I didn’t know you guys were out here.”

  “We should have known you’d go to bed at eight. You do look hot for your age, though.”

  “Oh for fuck’s sake. I didn’t go to bed at eight. And you’re a child.”

  “I know, but you love that about me.” He winked.

  I spun around and headed for my room. “You guys better make me some coffee.”

  “Already on it,” Gavin said from the kitchen.

  Damn Baileys.

  I went back to my room to put some clothes on and check my phone. No messages. What was going on with Asher? He’d obviously gone to their house last night after he’d left here. I appreciated that he was concerned. His protectiveness stirred a deep longing inside me. But was it necessary to send his brothers over here to sleep at my house?

  Closing my eyes, I sank onto the edge of my bed, remembering the way he’d felt last night. His body had been so tense, his heart hammering. Was he right? Was this man dangerous? Or was Asher paranoid?

  Both options were disturbing, if for different reasons.

  I came out dressed in a t-shirt and yoga pants—and bra—and was greeted by the smell of coffee and bacon. The armchairs were still shoved up against each other, and blankets and dirty socks were strewn around the living room, along with a random t-shirt. But the bacon meant I’d probably forgive them for being animals.

  It wasn’t their fault they were barely housebroken. Gram had done her best, but there was only so much she could do.

  Gavin was at the stove cooking bacon, wearing nothing but his boxer briefs. Logan was similarly dressed, although he had one white sock pulled up to his shin. I didn’t even bother asking why. It was Logan.

  He handed me a cup of coffee.

  “Thanks.” I cradled the cup in my hands. “Did Levi go home?”

  “Nah, he’s out doing a lap. Making sure everything’s all clear out there.”

  It was interesting that they were taking this so seriously. “Are you guys here just to indulge Asher, or do you really think there’s something going on?”

  Logan shrugged. “I don’t know. Asher’s convinced, but let’s be honest, he’s a little out of it.”

  “I believe him,” Gavin said.

  I sank down into a chair at the kitchen table. “Why?”

  He turned over a piece of bacon and jerked his hand away. “Ow, hot. I just don’t think he’d get all freaked out over nothing. And he was freaking the fuck out last night.”

  “Yeah, he was. What did he say to you guys?”

  Logan grabbed a piece of bacon off the plate and brought it to the table. “Basically that a tatted-up guy hit on you and sent up enough red flags that you lit the Asher-signal. He thinks it’s some guy named Reaper who wants revenge. Probably because Asher beat his ass in prison.”

  My eyes widened. “What?”

  “I gotta be honest, I’m kinda pissed I got put on Grace duty,” Gavin said. “No offense, Grace, but I wish I could have gone out with Asher last night to hunt this guy down.”

  “I swear to god, Gav, you have such a death wish,” Logan said.

  “Dude, a guy with neck tattoos named Reaper? I need to see that. Was he scary as fuck, Grace?”

  A sick feeling spread through my stomach. “He wasn’t scary so much as unsettling. But I need you to back up. Asher thinks this guy’s tracking him down for revenge? Has anyone talked to him this morning?”

  “Yeah, he texted when you were getting dressed,” Logan said, his voice nonchalant. “He said no luck last night, stay with Grace.”

  I gaped at him. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Sorry, I slept like shit last night. You need better guest accommodations.”

  “You’re killing me right now, Logan.”

  He just grinned.

  “Can you be serious for a minute? Be honest with me. Do you think Asher’s right? Is he in danger?”

  “Here’s the way I see it,” Logan said. “I’m sure he tangled with a tatted-up dude named Reaper in prison. He said he got into it with a lot of guys in there.”

  “Oh my god.”

  “As for whether the guy you met is him—who knows? It seems crazy, but what the hell do I know? Asher said the guy creeped you out, he’s worried you’re not safe, so we crash here until we’re sure.” He shrugged, like that was all any of us needed to know.

  I let out a breath, trying to take it all in. It wasn’t like I didn’t know Asher had been in fights in prison. As much as I’d hoped he’d been spared that sort of violence, I’d seen him when he’d first come home. He hadn’t gotten the cut on his forehead or the bruises on his knuckles from tripping over his shoelaces. But someone tracking him down for revenge… that was terrifying.

  “Should we call Jack?” I asked.

  “Maybe, but let’s wait to hear from Asher first,” Logan said. “Plus, he might just be losing it and paranoia is taking over.”

  “I still don’t think so,” Gavin said. “Do you think they found Reaper already? Maybe I can meet them and get in on this.”

  “That dude would probably rip you in half.”

  “I bet I could take him,” Gavin said.

  Logan rolled his eyes. “Right.”

  “Asher kicked his ass.”

  “Yeah, but Asher’s like ten times the badass you are.”

  Gavin put the last piece of bacon on the plate to drain and turned off the stove. “I could take Asher.”

  Levi came in the front door and shut it behind him. “No you couldn’t.”

  “You don’t even know what we’re talking about,” Gavin said.

  “Doesn’t matter. You couldn’t take Asher in any scenario.”

  “Yes I could. I’m not saying I’d win every time. But I bet I could make him tap out five matches out of ten. Maybe six since he’s out of practice.”

  Logan got up and grabbed another piece of bacon. “Have you ever beat Asher? Even once?”

  Gavin glared at him. “No, but I was a kid the last time we grappled. I hadn’t even finished growing yet.”

  “I wouldn’t want to go toe to toe with him,” Logan said, half a piece of bacon sticking out of his mouth. “Not now.”

  “That’s because you suck,” Levi said.

  Logan bit off the piece of bacon and dropped the rest on the counter. “Okay, brotato. Rematch. Let’s do this.”

  He lunged and Levi widened his stance.

  “Stop! Not inside.” I put a hand to my forehead. “God, why do you guys make me act like I’m your mother?”

  Amazingly, Logan listened. He stopped and flashed me a grin. “We’re just giving you practice for when you have your own pack of Bailey cubs.”

  “I’m not having any Bailey cubs at this rate. In case you haven’t noticed, your brother isn’t exactly interested. And I’m certainly not having them with any of you.”

  Logan opened his mouth like he was going to say something, then closed it again and paused. “Nope, that’d be too weird. I definitely can’t give you my Bailey sperm. You’re going to have to keep wearing Asher down. He’s your only hope.”

  I didn’t reply. Just took a drink of my coffee.

  Gavin stuck a plate of bacon in front of me, then sat down. Levi poured himself a cup of coffee but didn’t join us. He leaned against the counter and looked out the window.

  “Hey.” Gavin rubbed a few circles across my back. “Don’t worry.
He’ll quit being dumb sooner or later.”

  “This is why, isn’t it?” I asked. “Why he keeps saying we can’t be together. He thinks he has to protect me from something.”

  “Well, yeah,” Logan said, dropping into a chair. “You know how he is with that protector shit. In high school he broke Josiah Haven’s arm for fucking with Evan.”

  “That time at the Caboose,” Levi said, his voice quiet, “he was ready to drag those two dicks outside for mouthing off to you.”

  “Yeah, I remember.”

  “And then, you know…” Gavin trailed off.

  I did know. And I did not want to talk about it right now.

  “Jesus, Gav,” Levi said. “Of course we know. You don’t have to say it.”

  The front door burst open, sparing me the need to shift the subject away from one of the worst nights of my entire life. Levi dropped his mug in the sink, Logan stood so fast his chair tipped over, and Gavin jumped up and leaped over the table, landing in a half crouch on the other side.

  Cara stood in the doorway with her white rolling suitcase, her bright red lips parted. Her red top matched her lipstick and she wore white capris with a pair of strappy high-heeled sandals. “Hello, my wild tropical mermaid. Wow, what’s going on here?”

  “Shut the fucking door,” Logan barked.

  She whipped off her sunglasses, as if to make sure he received the full force of the hate in her glare. “Excuse me?”

  Gavin went over to shut and lock the door. “Scary ex-con might be in town to get revenge on Asher and he talked to Grace last night, so she’s on lockdown.”

  “What?” Cara shrieked. She dropped the suitcase handle and her sunglasses clattered to the floor. She was in the seat next to me so fast, it was like she’d teleported. “Oh my god, are you okay?”

  “Yes, I’m fine.” I grabbed her wrists so she’d stop pawing at me. “A guy weirded me out and I told Asher. And now I don’t know if there’s a guy in town who wants revenge, or if Asher is having a paranoid meltdown.”

  “God, Grace, I don’t know which is worse.”

  “I know.” I threw my arms around her. “I missed you.”

  She hugged me back. “I missed you too.”

  “Where you been, Cara?” Gavin asked. He flipped a chair around and straddled it.